Is this clinical?

[lcg98]

---

Members don't see this ad.

I'm applying to a volunteer program over the summer, and I'm choosing between two positions: emergency room volunteer or NICU cuddler. I really want to choose NICU, I'm being told that the NICU position might not count as "clinical experience" and I should just do the emergency room to be safe, is this probably correct?

edit: i've also participated in an emergency department program in my home university (around 50 hours so far) and will continue during the school year, so would the NICU experience show maybe I'm diverse in my experiences?

 

[Dwight Snoot]

If you are touching patients it is definitely clinical. Plus that sounds like a more enjoyable and meaningful experience because realistically you might not do much as an ER volunteer.

 

[LizzyM]

As a NICU cuddler you are going to smell patients (and that new baby smell is so good!) Not only that, but you are going to get to touch patients.
I know at least one med school grad who was a cuddler before attending med school but it is not a common experience among applicants so it may be something that makes you stand out and is likely (because it is novel) to be something you'll be asked about at interview.